Löwen in conversion fever: Now it's the defense's turn

Created: 05/23/2022, 05:36

By: Uli Kellner

farewell cup?

Jesper Verlaat, 25, after winning the state cup with Waldhof Mannheim.

© Imago / Oliver Zimmermann

The appearance in the state parliament was not the only reason for Michael Köllner to leave Mallorca early.

The next day he showed Jesper Verlaat the 1860 site.

TSV 1860 in the summer of 2022: bustling like no other professional club in Germany.

Even at breakfast time on Saturday, the press office had something to report: “Another newcomer has been confirmed .

.

.” The circular mail began with this subject line, but then – good gag – it was just one entry in the pool of sponsors that the lions introduced: PMC Aktive GmbH;

a marketing agency from Grasbrunn that can look forward to attention that it otherwise would not have received.

It would not have surprised anyone if the mail had continued like this after the introductory line: .

.

.

Defender Jesper Verlaat, 25. Word had long since got around that Michael Köllner had flown back from Mallorca not only because of his appearance in the state parliament, but also to meet the free transfer professional from Waldhof Mannheim.

Eyewitnesses report that the 1860 coach showed the son of former Bundesliga professional Frank Verlaat, 54, the training ground.

Verlaat would be summer number six (after Rieder, Skenderovic, Lakenmacher, Vrenezi, Kobylanski).

He could close the gap created in central defense by the departure of Stephan Salger, 32.

The Dutchman, who reached the DFB Cup with Waldhof on Saturday (by beating Türkspor Mannheim 7-0 in the final of the state cup),

According to "Bild", Korbinian Burger is also a candidate

Or will an ex-lion return in the end (if Verlaat is too expensive)?

According to "Bild", Korbinian Burger is also on the list of Köllner and sports director Günther Gorenzel.

Burger, 27, last held out the bones for promoted 1. FC Magdeburg.

Now his contract has expired.

After his training period in the Löwen youth (2010 to 2015), he also played for Bayern II, Fürth and Großaspach.

Young people have never disappointed me.

We're not set in stone when it comes to squads either.

It could be that we need another position more urgently.

1860 coach Michael Köller on possible reinforcements for the defence.

Speaking of offspring.

After Köllner's state parliament chatter, it would also be conceivable that the coach would only start the new season with the young defender trio Semi Belkahia, 23, Niklas Lang, 19, and Leandro Morgalla, 17.

On the one hand, he joked that the NLZ could once again focus on other positions.

On the other hand, he said: “Young people have never let me down.

We're not set in stone when it comes to squads either.

It could be that we need another position more urgently.”

Dennis Dressel: farewell via Instagram

Another 1860 homegrown is sure to come out: Dennis Dressel, 23. The midfielder said goodbye briefly and concisely on Instagram: “Thank you Löwen for 15 great years that will always be remembered.” Dachau is associated with Rostock.